Secretary Rte. 2, Box 332, Adena, Ohio 43901
The good Lord again smiled on the Stumptown Gang! Beautiful
weather prevailed both days for our 20th annual reunion. A large
crowd was on hand for both days.
Saturday morning got off to a good start at 9:00 a.m. with
prayer led by one of our members, Lester Nabb, followed by sawing,
threshing, shingle making, corn meal grinding, etc. The steam table
was full of small steam engines and models. Ray Covault and Gary
Arnold showed their 1/4-scale engines and
equipment. Gas Engine Alley featured around 300 gas engines doing
their ‘thing’. Several antique cars and trucks arrived to
bolster our show.
The tractor count was 57 tractors, with the ‘Green Line’
being the most numerous. This year we were fortunate to have two
model railroads, a 15-gauge Cli-Shay locomotive on its own track
and a 15-gauge Cagney running on an oval track taking children for
a steam ride.
At noon, all the whistles signalled that it was time to eat at
our two eating stands where corn bread and beans were a
favorite.
The antique and 1/2-scale model slow
engine race began at 1:00 p.m. Joe Harrison won again on his
grandfather’s 20 HP Russell in the antique division and Bill
Arnold won in the 1/2-scale class. The block
race followed with Earl Hamilton taking the
1/2-scale class and Glenn Krofft winning the
antique class.
At 2:30 the Ladies Auxiliary announced that Mrs. Melba Toole had
been chosen the ‘Thresherman’s Queen’ and her husband,
Lester Toole, was named ‘Thresherman of the Year.’ They
took their ‘royal’ ride on a 1922 Model T truck owned and
chauffeured by Ralph Jones of Woodsfield. Saturday’s grand
parade was led by our Queen and Thresherman of the Year. All
steamers, tractors, and antique cars and trucks were entered.
Immediately following the parade, the Mail Pouch tobacco
representative started passing out samples for the tobacco spitting
contest. Fourteen contestants took their turn at the ‘shooting
line’. James White of our neighboring state of West Virginia
took first place by spitting 18 feet 9 inches. Two ladies from
Carrollton were among the contestants.
At 7:00 p.m., the gas tractor boys signed up for the wagon
backing contest. Mark Lyle of Flushing won in the ‘wide front
end’ class and John Miller of Clinton, Pennsylvania took the
tricycle category. Mark Lyle’s father, Dick, a former Ohio
State wagon-backing champion, gave a demonstration and completed
the course in 22 seconds.
The ‘Old Time Fiddle Contest’ began at 8:00 p.m.
Fourteen fiddlers signed up for this event. In the 60 years and
older category, Jim Ady of Woodsfield took first place; Floyd
Warren of Cortland, Ohio took second; and Carl McConaughy of
Barnesville, Ohio took third. In the under 60 class, Vera Fluharty
of Follansbee, West Virginia was the first place winner; Dorman and
John Jefferies of Toronto, Ohio, a father and son combination, took
second and third place. While waiting for the winners to be
announced, Carl Porter entertained on his harmonica. A blue grass
group completed Saturday’s activities.
Sunday’s show got started with church services led by Marion
Rogers and a gospel singing group after which all regular
activities got under way. At 1:00 p.m. the slow engine race and
block race were held. Henry Niemiec was the slow engine champion in
the antique category and Criss Arnold was the
1/2-scale winner. The block race in the
antique class was won by Mel Young and Criss Arnold won the trophy
for the 1/2-scale engine. At 2:30 the Ladies
Auxiliary held the drawing for the quilt that they had made. The
winner was Susy Worrell of Cadiz, Ohio. The parade was the
‘Grand Finale’ of the show.
The officers and directors wish to thank our emcee Mickey
MacDonald, our exhibitors, the flea market operators, the Ladies
Auxiliary, Consol Coal Co., Bannock Coal Co., the New Athens
Volunteer Fire Dept. and Auxiliary, our members and anyone else who
helped make the show a success. And last, but not least, we thank
the spectators who by paying admission help pay the bills.
See you next year on Saturday and Sunday after Labor Day,
September 10th and 11th, 1983..
